Mine car and the like



Aug. 12, 1930. A. H. STOW 1,772,967

MINE CAR AND THE LIKE I Original Filed Nov. 9, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.1

ATTORNEY Aug. 12, 1930. STQW 1,772,967

MINE CAR AND THE LIKE Original Filed Nov. 9, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 as 17 i? 1H 14-2 741 14-3 ul gimpu =1 l n v I 442-: 5 t {Z328 411-1 la 3' 74 21 [Z319 INVENTOR $445M ATTORNEY Aug. 12, 1930. I s ow 1,772,967

MINE CAR AND THE LIKE Original Filed Nov. 9, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 2 .JZ? .IE .17 a? 1:5 4 9 i INVENTOR a I S M ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 12, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUDLEY HART STOW, OI CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE AS SIGNMENTS, TO SANFORD INVESTMENT COMPANY, 01 WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A

CORPORATION OF DELAWARE MINE CAR AND THE LIKE Application filed November 9, 1921, Serial No. 514,041. Renewed; February 4, 1830.

This invention relates to certain improvements in and relating to mine cars and the like; and the objects and nature of the invention will be readly understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following explanations of the accompanying draw ings, illustrating what I now believe to be the preferred mechanical expressions or embodiments from among other forms, constructions and arrangements within the spirit and scope of the invention.

In various industries, but particularly in is discharged from coal mining, the ladin certain types of cars, hy tipping such cars endwise. In practice, the heavily loaded cars are moved rapidly to the dumping point and more or less quickly stopped at such point in preparation for the dumping operation. This sudden stopping of a heavy car, in rapid motion, necessarily results in considerable shock and strain, both to the car and to the dumping structure. It is an object of my invention tocushion the shock and strain incidental to this more or less sudden halting of the car.

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features in construction and in combinations and arrangements as more fully and particularly set forth and pointed out hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 diagrammatically illustrates in side elevation, a common type of mine car and dumping apparatus, dotted lines indicate the car and dumping apparatus in dumping position, the spokes and hubs of the car wheels being omitted. v

Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation of a porvtion of a car embodying my invention.

Fig. 3 diagrammatically illustrates a car embodying my invention and dumping a paratus, in side elevation, dotted lines in icating the cushioning movement of the car body and load, the car wheels being indicated by circles.

Fig. 4. shows in side elevation, a car embodying another form of my invention, the dumping apparatus being diagrammatically illustrated, and the car wheels indicated by so circles. I

Fig. 5 is a detail section on the line 5-5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail inner side elevation of a portion of a side sill of the car of Fig. 4., showing an axle boxing of said car. i

Fig. shows a portion of said side sill as drilled or otherwise prepared to receive said boxing.

Fig. 8,is a top view of the boxing of Fig. 6, the sill being indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 9 is a-detail elevation of the boxing of Fig. 6, showing the side thereof that fits the sill.

Fig. 10 is a detail side elevation of a ortion of a car sill provided with an axle oxing embodying provision for lubricating the car axle.

Fig 11 is adetail elevation of the portion of the sill that receives the boxing of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a detail top view of the boxing pf Fig. 10, the sill being indicated by dotted mes.

Fig. 13 is a..section on the line. 13-13, Fig. 10.

Fig. 14 is a section longitudinally of a side sill (shown by dotted lines) showing inner and outer alined boxin s.

Fig. 1 has been intro need to clearly indicate the dumping means usually employed for dumping the common type: of end dum cars, one of which is diagrammatically illustrated, to make plain the shock to which such cars and the dumping apparatus are subjected.

In Fig. 1 the well known car indicated embodies the car body 1 having bottom 12 to which the depending axle boxings 8 are secured. These boxings have cylindrical bearings receiving the axles 9 of the car wheels 7.

The open or dumping end of the car body is normally closed by a vertically swingable end gate having forwardly projecting or exposed hook 2. The well known dumping apparatus shown, comprises vertically tiltable track section 6 forming the dump, mounted to rock on the transverse axis 10, and provided with car counterweight 11, usually hung from the rear or long end of the dump by rod or other hanging support 13. The front ends of the rails of the dump are 4 hold the car during the dumping operation.

The horns of the dump areshown above the tipple chute 5 onto which the car lading is delivered from the tilted car.

The end gate of the car is controlled by the swinging hook 4, which engages projection 2 of said gate, to expose the open end of the car as the car is tilted, as is well understood by those skilled in the art.

The radius of the curved rail ends or' horns 6l is usually approximately the same as the radius of the front car wheel treads, which engage the horns to stop the car. The mine cars with their heavy loads, travel more or less rapidly onto the dump and consequently are brought to a sudden halt when the car front wheels engage the horns with resulting tremendous shocks and strains on the car and dump structures.

Now, it is the purpose of my invention to approximately absorb this shock by providing for continued cushioning or lifting movement of the car body and its load when the front car wheels have been suddenly stopped by said horns. This result is accomplished approximately by gradually absorbing the inertia of the car bodythe load-in an effort to lift the load independently of the stationary front car wheels. This result can be accomplished by various constructions or arrangements, but I prefer to employ such more or less loose or free connection or coupling between the front body supporting car wheels and the body as will enable the body to climb forwardly and upwardly. with respect to the front wheels, to gradually lift the load and absorb the inertia of the forwardly moving mass, when the front wheels of the forwardly moving car are suddenly stopped by engagement with the horns of the dump.

In the common form of car, indicated by Fig. 1, the axles 9 fit more or less snugly in the boxings 8 and no provision is made for relative fore and aft or longitudinal movement between the car body and front wheels,

and on engagement of the front wheels with I the horns, the car body-the load-is suddenly halted simultaneously with the halting of the front wheels; the entire moving mass as a unit is halted by the horns with a consequent tremendous impact.

/ In Fig. 3 I show the car construction of Fig. 1 equipped with an exceedingly simple embodiment of my present invention, which consists in the provision of downwardly and rearwardly elongated axle receiving slots, apertures or bearings 14*, in the front axle boxings 14 to receive the front axle 9 and permit limited upward and forward movement of the load-the car body and lading thereinwith respect to the front wheel axle.

In the structure of Fig. 3, the front boxing 14 and the rear boxin 8 are fixed to and depend from the plank oor or other car bottom 12. The axle receiving aperture of bearings of the rear boxings 8 are cylindrical to more or less closely receive the cylindrical portions of the rear axles 9 as in Fig. 1. Hence, when the front wheels of the moving car of Fig. 3, are halted by the dumper horns, the inertia of the load will carry the car body and the rear wheels forwardly, as indicated by dotted lines, and this forward movement will be against the weight of the load which will be lifted at its forward portion as indicated b dotted lines, Fig. 3, while the front whee s are held down and against forward movement of the horns.

The upper and lower ends of the elongated apertures or bearings 14 are semi-circular to conform to the cylindrical portion of the axle in the bearing and the width of each bearing between its parallel longitudinal edge walls is approximately equal to the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the axle in said bearing. The length of each elongated bearing aperture 14 is in this instance, slightly less than twice the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the axle therein, although, of course, the length of the bearing can be varied to suit conditions and requirements.

The angle of inclination of the elongated bearings can also be varied to suit conditions and requirements, although the angle of the longitudinal axis of the bearing aperture with respect to the general plane, or direction, of the track is preferably about forty-five degrees, or say somewhere between thirtyand sixty degrees, so that the longitudinal walls thereof will have a wedging or cam action on the wheel axle in lifting the load under the forward longitudinal thrust or impetus of the load when the front wheels are suddenly halted.

From the foregoing explanation, it will be evident that the axle journal bearing is to be elongated on such a slope or pitch or inclina tion, that it acts as a gravity shock absorber, and the slope or inclination may therefore be termed a gravity dumping shock absorbing slope. In Fig. 6, the aperture 14; represents the elongated axle journal hearing, which registers with the aperture or opening 20, in Fig. 7, on the side beam 15.

As viewed sidewise of the car, see Fig. 4, the axle journal bearing, as above, is elongated, but in neither a vertical nor in a horizontal direction. The direction of elongation may therefore be somewhat more specifically described as diagonal, as it appears in a side view of the car. My improved axle journal bearing may therefore also be designated as a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing.

The weight of the load, i. e. the car and its lading, normally maintains the car at its limit of downward movement with the semi-cylindrical upper ends of the elongated bearings resting on the car axle, see 9, Fig. 2, to. transmit the load to the axle through extensive A area bearing surfaces thereon.

bearing apertures into a forward and upward lifting movement, whichif of suiiicient power, continues until the semi-cylindrical lower end walls of the elongated bearings strike the axle, see position 9' indicated by dotted lines, Fig.

2, whereupon the independent forward lifting movement of the car body is halted. The force of the impact being then exhausted, the car drops back and down to normal position with the semi-cylindrical top walls of the bearings again resting on the axle to carry the load. The speed of the car at the time of the impact determines the speed of the upward and forward impact cushioning movement of the car with respect to the front wheel axis, under the action of the load lifting connection between the front wheel axis and the car, and hence the cushioning efi'ect is automatically proportioned to the speed of the impact. I

In this connection, it will be noted that the force of the impact is substantially absorbed or cushioned in the act of lifting the load, and that consequently the blow or impact of the lower ends of the bearings against the front wheel axis is substantially reduced approximately to a negligible shock and furthermore, distorting injury to the axle and lower ends of the bearings, is substantially avoided because of the extensive semi-cylindrical concentric-areas of the axle and lower bearing ends that come into engagement. The loose or load lifting connection between the car and wheel axle also performs an important function, in that independent drop of the wheels with respect to the car body is permitted which is of utility and advantage in preventing derailment when traveling over uneven tracks. The wheels can thus drop to follow unevenness in the tracks and thereby prevent the wheels from jumping the track. This action takes place even where the loose lifting connection is established as in Fig. 3, between the body and front axle only, but in the preferred construction the loose load lifting connection is established between the body and all of the car supporting wheels, see Fig. 4, although I do not wish to so limit the broad features of my invention.

The car of Fig. 4 embodies a traction truck comprising I beam longitudinal side sills 15 to the lower flanges of which the car floor or bottom 16 is secured, and to which the lading confining body 1 is also secured. In this car, the axles 9are arranged above the car floor and extend through the side sills 15, the vertical webs of which are provided with transverse. intermediate openings or -apertures 20 to receive the axles. These apertures are inclined downwardly and rearwardly and formed approximately the same as elongated bearings 14", to perform the same functions in providing the loose load lifting connection between body and wheel axle. However, I,

prefer that thewebs of the side sills do not in themselves form or constitute the bearings for the wheel axles, and hence I preferably provide axle boxings supported by said sills and embodying inclined bearing apertures 14", registering with the apertures 20 in the sill webs.

In the examples shown by Figs. 4 to 14,

:each'axle boxing 14f1 consists of a metal block arranged at the inner side of a side sill and fitted between and abutting the top and bottom flanges of the I beam and having a vertical side or end face 14-2 fitting against the inner vertical face of the web of said beam. The opposite front and rear end portions of this block or boxing in this particular example, are shown formed integral with lugs or bosses 14-3 projecting laterally from the vertical face.14-2 to snugly enter transverse holes 19 formed therefor in the vertical.

web of the I beam. The length of each boss 14-3 is approximately equal to the thickness of said web so that the outer end faces of the bosses are approximately flush with the vertical outerface of the web to receive relatively large washers 17 against the outer faces of which attaching rivets 18 abut. The boxings are formed with rivet holes 21 to receive said rivets. The boxings'thus longitudinally interlock with the I beams and are rigidly fixed beam Web and is formed with an elongatedbearing aperture registering with the aperture 14 of the boxing 14-1. In this instance, I show the secondary boxing 14-4 interlocking with the I-beam through the medium of bosses 145 integral with boxing 144 and entering the holes 19 of the beam 15. The secondary boxing l44 is particularly intended for use where roller bearing car wheels are employed to provide the additional support then required for the axle particularly under dumping shocks, even when cushioned by the inclined bearing apertures.

If so desired, the boxing 14-1 can be laterally enlarged to provide holes for bolts or rivets 181 in addition to the bolts or rivets 18 (Figs. 10, 12) and for such enlarged boxthe boxing 14-1 enlarged to provide an internal oil waste chamber 25 peculiarly located with res act to the elongated bearmg aperture and t e normal osition of the axle therein. This oil waste c amber is arranged in the upper part of the boxing above the elongated bearing aperture and above the 15 axle. The chamber has a top filling opening normally closed by the top horizontal cover 23 arranged on to of the boxing and swingable on bolt 24. he chamber is open at the bottom to the axle, when in normalposition.

This bottom opening of the chamber is located midway the upper portion of the bearing surface and exposes the top of the axle to the lubricating material.

It is of advantage in mine car practice, to

u kee the axle lubricated within the bearing boxings so that the axle is free to rotate at all times, and such lubricated freely rotatable axle is particularly advantageous should the wheel hubs become dry and increase the frictional engagement thereof with the axle.

3.", axles.

If so desired, the inner ends of the elonated bearing apertures in the bexings, can covered to approximately exclude dust and grit, by dust guards mounted on the For this purpose, I show vertical plates or collars 26, secured to the axle by set screws 27 (Fig. 5).

An I beam is not seriously weakened by removal of a reasonable quantity of material,

at or near the neutral axis of its web (see Figs. 11) but in this instance, the weakened portion of the beam is braced by the boxing tted therein and fixed thereto.

The bearing boxings which ma be either inside oroutside boxings, or com ination of both, interlock with the car sills 15 (through bosses 143 and holes 19), among other reasons, for the purpose of taking up the shock between the boxings and sill when thefront wheels of the car are suddenly stopped, and

to relieve the securing bolts or rivets from shearing action to which they might otherwise be subjected.

The several forms of boxings, Figs. 4 to v 13 inclusive, may all be termed inside boxings in that they are placed on the inner sides of the I-beams. The double boxings Fig. 14 may be said to consist of an inside and an outside boxing acting conjointly as a compound box- 0'0 ing. What have just been described as inside boxings, may of course be reversed, and placed on theoutside of the I-beams. Evidently,-what has been described as the inside boxing in Fig. 14, can be reversed and placed on the outside of the I-beam side sills.

What has been herein termed the boxing vertical side or end face 14-2, 9, may also be termed the vertical attaching race, as that is one of its functions.

The side sills 15, Fig. 4, evidently carry the entire weight of the car and its lading, and said sills are carried by the axle boxings. It is therefore evident that the boxing face bosses 14-3, are sodesigned as to not only resist the dumping shear, but also to carry the side sills and their lead, without any shearing action whatever on the attaching rivets 18. These face bosses, may also be termed dum ing shock resisting and side sill su porting osses.

t is also to be noted, that the upper outer edge of the boxing proper 14-1, bears against the under inner side of the up er flange of the structural steel side sill 15. y improved boxing therefore, may also be described as having horizontal side sill flange bearing faces.

The bottom, 16, forming a part of Fig. 5 of the drawings is not a part of the subjectmatter of this application. It forms a part of the subject-matter of my ending application for Letters Patent, erial Number 289,190, filed April 11, 1919, for a Mine car;

and my application for LettersPatent Serial Number 424,132, filed November 15, 1920, for Mine or other cars.

It is evident that various changes, modifications, additions and departures might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact disclosures hereof.

What I claim is:

1. A mine car and the like, comprising a lading supporting and retainin body, a wheeled support therefor inclu ing front wheels, and downwardly and rearwardly inclined elongated bearings for the wheel axle,

said axle normally located at the upper ends of said bearings.

2. A mine car and the like having wheel axle bearing apertures elongated and inclined at an angle of approximately forty five degrees, the axle normally located at the upper ends of said apertures.

3. In a car, in combination, longitudinal su(pporting side sills, axle boxings within the si e sills and having elongated axle bearings on a gravity dumping shock absorbing slope, rotary wheeled car axles extending through the sills and boxings and located in said bearings to cooperate with said slopes, and means for retaining said boxings in working positions within said sills.

'4. A mine car having opposite side elongated bearings forming gravity dumping shock absorbing slopes, and car supporting wheeled axles including an axle extendin through said bearings and cooperating wit said slopes.

5. In mine and other cars a wheeled rotary axle boxing including a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing.

6. In mine and other cars, in combination, a wheeled rotary axle boxing including a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing and a vertical attaching face.

7 In mine and other cars, in combination, a longitudinal supporting flanged metal side beam and a wheeled rotary axle boxing including a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing.

8. In mine and other cars, in combination, a longitudinal supporting flanged metal side beam, and a wheeled rotary axle boxing including a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing and an attaching face.

9. In mine and other cars, in combination, a longitudinal supporting flanged metal side beam, and a Wheeled rotary axle boxing including a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing and a vertical attaching face.

10. In mine and other cars, in combination, a longitudinal supporting flanged metal side beam, and a wheeled rotary axle boxing including a diagonally elongated axle journal hearing, and a vertical attaching face having a lateral boss separate and apart from said axle bearing.

11. In mine and other cars, in combination, a longitudinal supporting flanged metal side beam, a wheeled rotary axle boxing including a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing and a vertical attaching face having a lateral boss separate and apartfromsaid axlebearing, together with a lateral boss receiving aperture in said side beam.

12. In mine and other cars, in combination, a longitudinal supporting flanged metal side beam, and a wheeled rotary axle boxing including a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing, an attaching face, and an oil waste chamber.

13. In mine and other cars, in combination, a longitudinal supporting flanged metal side beam, a wheeled rotary car axle intermediate the top and bottom flanges of said side beam, together with a rotary axle boxing including a diagonally elongated axle journal bearlng, an attaching face, and an oil waste chamber over said car axle.

14. In mine and other cars, a wheeled rotary axle boxing consisting of an integral structure including a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing and an attaching face.

15. In mine and other cars, a wheeled rotary axle boxing consisting of an integral structure including a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing and a vertical attachlng face.

16. In mine and other cars, in combination, a longitudinal supporting flanged metal side beam, and a wheeled rotary axle boxing consisting of an integral structure including a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing.

17. In mine and othercars, in combination, a longitudinal supporting flanged metal side beam, and a wheeled rotary axle boxing consisting of an integral structure including a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing and an attaching face.

18. In mine and other cars, in combination, a longitudinal supporting flanged metal side beam, and a wheeled rotary axle boxing consisting of an integral structure including a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing and a vertical attaching face.

19. In mine and other cars, in combination, a longitudinal supporting flanged metal side beam, and a Wheeled rotary axle boxing consisting of an integral structure including a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing, a vertical attaching face, and a lateral boss separate and apart from said axle bearing.

20. In mine andother cars, in combination, a longitudinal supporting flanged metal side beam, a wheeled rotary axle boxing consisting of an integral structure including a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing,

a vertical attaching face and a lateral boss separate and apart from said axle bearing, together with a lateral boss receiving aperture in said side beam.

21. In mine and other cars, in combination, a longitudinal supporting flanged metal side beam, a wheeled rotary axle boxing consisting of an integral structure including a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing and an attaching face, together with a wheeled rotary car axle and an axle journal. bearing dust guard mounted on said axle.

. 22. In mine and other cars, in combination, a longitudinal supporting flanged metal side beam, and a wheeled rotary axle boxing consisting of an integral structure including a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing,

an attaching face, and an oil waste chamber.

23. In mine and other cars, in combination, a longitudinal supporting flanged metal side beam, and a wheeled rotary axle boxing consisting of an integral structure including a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing, an attaching face, and an oil waste chamber located over said axle journal bearing.

24. In mine and other cars, the combination of, a longitudinal supporting flanged metal side beam and a wheeled rotary axle boxing secured together, said axle boxing consisting of an integral structure including, a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing and an attaching face.

25. In mine and other cars, the combination of, a longitudinal supporting flanged metal side beam and a wheeled rotary axle boxing secured together, said axle boxing consisting of an integral structure including, a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing and a vertical attaching face.

26. In mine and other cars, the combination of, a longitudinal supporting flanged e a diagonally metal side beam and a wheeled rotary axle boxing secured together, said axle boxing consisting of an integral structure including,

elongated axle journal bearing, a vertical attaching face and a lateral boss separate and apart from the axle ournal bearing.

27. In mine and other cars, the combination of, a longitudinal supporting flanged metal side beam and a wheeled rotary axle boxing secured together, said axle boxing consisting of an integral structure including, a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing, a vertical attac ing face and a lateral boss separate and apart from the axle journal bearing, together with a boss receiving aperture in the web plate of said side beam.

28. In mine and other cars, the combination of, a longitudinal supporting flanged metal side beam and a wheeled rotary axle boxing secured together, said axle boxing consisting of an integral structure including a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing and a vertical attaching face, together with a dust guard to said axle journal bearing.

29. In mine and other cars, the combination of, a longitudinal-csupporting flanged metal side beam and a wheeled rotary axle boxing secured together, said axle boxing consisting of an integral structure including a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing and a vertical attaching face, a Wheeled rotary car axle, and a dust guard for said elongated axle bearing and mounted on said axle.

30. In mine and other cars, the combination of, a longitudinal supporting flanged metal side beam and a wheeled rotary axle boxing secured together, said axle boxing consisting of an integral structure including a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing, a vertical attaching face and an oil waste chamber.

31. In mine and other cars, the combination of, a longitudinal supporting flanged metal side beam and a wheeled rotary axle boxing secured together, said axle boxing consisting of an integral structure including, a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing, a vertical attaching face and an oil waste chamber located over said axle journal hearing.

32. In mine and other cars, the combination of, a longitudinal supporting flanged metal side beam and opposite wheeled rotary axle journal boxings all secured together, said axle boxings consisting of integral structures including diagonally elongated axle journal bearings registering with each other, and vertical attaching faces.

33. In mine and other cars, the combination of a side beam, a car axle journal boxing including a diagonally elon ated axle bearing, sai bearing being e ongated downwardly and rearwardly, together with a car wheel rotary axle operating within said elongated axle bearing.

34. In mine and other cars, the combination of a car axle journal boxing including a diagonally elongated axle journal bearing, said bearing being elongated downwardly and rearwardly, together with a car wheel rotary axle operating within said elongated axle bearing.

35. In mine and other cars, the combination of a car axle journal boxing including a diagonally elongated axle bearing, together with a car wheel rotary axle operating within said elongated axle bearing.

36. A mine car and the like comprising axles, wheels on the axles, a lading retaining body directly mounted on the axles, and means providin for impact-absorbing relative forward lit ting movement of the body with respect to said axles on sudden halting of the forward movement of the wheels and axles. I

37. A mine car and the like, comprising axles and wheels on the axles, a lading body directly mounted on the axles, and a loose impact-cushioning load-lifting connection between the axles and the lading retaining body constructed and arranged to cause the body to continue forward with a liftin movement when the front wheels of the orward moving car are suddenly halted.

AUDLEY-HART STOW. 

